Improvement in velocipedes



C. A. MAYNARD.-

v Velocinede.

No. 97,421. Patented Nov. 30, 1869..

N. FETER5. PhohrLillwgrlphnr, Washington. 0.0,

-. man STATES CHARLES A. llIAYNARD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEIM ENT IN VELOCIPEDES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patcgt N0. 97,42l, dated November 30, 1869.

To to whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, CHARLES A. MAYNARD, of the city and county of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Velocipede; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the 'art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying-drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which-- Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved velocipede. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section through the axle of the driving-wheel. Fig. 4 is a detail side view, partly in section, of one end of the axle. Fig. 5 is a detail front view, partly in section, of the steering-lever. Fig. 6 is a detail plan or top view of thesame.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to-a new three-wheeled velocipede, which is propelled by the weight of the rider placed alternately upon one of two oscillating frames, so that the rider may, by alternately sitting down and standing up, impart the requisite motion to the vehicle.

. The invention consists, chiefly, in the application of a novel ratchet-and-spring connec tion with the hubs of the driving-wheels, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

A in the drawings represents the frame or reach of my improved velocipede. Its rear part is rigidly secured to the fixed rear axle, B, while its front end receives the swiveled steering-post O, in which the front steeringwheel. D, is hung.

To the upper end of the post 0 is secured a handle, E, which is operated by means of two strings, a a, and which works over a stationary disk, 1), formed on the front end of the reach. The disk I; has ratchet-teeth formed on its face or edge, at the sides, into which clinch-pawls 0 c, that are pivoted to the handle E, can be thrown. Springs (1 d, that are fastened to the handle, as in Fig. 5, throw the clinch-pawls constantly into the notches or teeth of the disk I). The strings to are fastened to the upper ends of the pawls, and will,when

. pulled, draw the same out of the teeth. The

further pulling of the strings will turn the lever, andthereby steer the wheel D. The teeth are so shaped on the disk that the pawls will readily slip forward 011 them, but will have to be raised when to be moved backward. \rVhen the handle has been turned in the desired direction, it is at once looked in the same by the spring-pawls until again moved by further pulling one of the strings. The rear end of the frame A is forked. To one end is pivoted a lever, F, which extends forward under the axle B, and from which an arm, 0, projects up ward to support the seat G. To the other rear end of the frame A is pivoted another similar lever, H, which carries at its front end a footrest, 9, as shown. The two levers F H are connected with each other by a belt or cord, h, which passes over pulleys t i, that are secured to the under side of the axle B, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when one of these levers is moved down the other will be elevated. Thus,

when the rider alternately sits down on the collar, K, that is fitted on the rounded end of the axle B, to turn the said collar when the lever moves down.

The wheels I I turn loose on the ends of the axle, and are by means of coiled springs ZZ connected with ratchet-wheels m, that turn also loose 011 the axle.

On each collar K is a spring catch or pawl, n, which catches into the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and which serves to turn said wheel when the collar is turned forward. When, however, the collar is turned backward, the catch a will not turn the ratchet-wheel, as the latter is absolutely prevented from turning back by a catch, 0, formed on a shoulder of the axle, as shown in Fig. 3. The ratchetwheel, when turned, will wind the spring Z around it, and will thereby cause the said spring, in its attempt to unwind, to turn the wheel I. Every one of the levers F H is, by a cord, 19, that passes over a pulley, q, underneath, connected with the collar K, to turn the same back when the lever swings up, and to wind up the cord j for the next downward stroke.

A platform, J, is arranged under the front parts of the levers F H, and is secured to the I belts j p h, collars K, ratchet-wheels m, springs frame to arrest them when they have moved I, catches a 0, and main wheels I, all combined far enough down. and operating substantially as herein shown h Having thus described my invention, what and described.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters CHAS. A. MAYNARD. Patent, is- Witnesses:

The combination of the levers F H with the OTHELLO O. H. VVEIDNER, seat and foot-support, and with the straps or EDWARD M. HUTTON. 

